PRIVACY
At the Africa Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA), we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Statement explains how and why we collect and use personal information and it applies to all individuals whose data we collect, including visitors to our website and those who subscribe to our newsletter. Personal data means any information that can be used to identify an individual, such as a name or email address. By using our website or providing your information to us, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Statement and consent to the practices described herein.
Collection of your personal information
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, such as your name and email address when you subscribe to our newsletter. This information is managed through our third-party service provider, Mailchimp. We do not collect sensitive data, nor do we knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us for removal.
Our website also collects limited technical information automatically, including IP addresses, browser type, device details and browsing activity. This data is used solely for analytics to improve our website and services and does not directly identify you.
How We Use Your Information
We process and use personal information for the following purposes:
- To Send Newsletters and Updates: If you have subscribed to our newsletter, we will use your name
and email to send you our newsletter and relevant updates or communications that you have
requested or consented to receive. - To Improve Our Website and Services: We analyze website usage data (which does not directly
identify you) to understand how our site is navigated and to improve the user experience and
content of our website. This is part of our legitimate interest in operating and enhancing our
services. - To Ensure Security: We may use information (such as IP addresses or other technical data) to
maintain the security of our website, protect against fraudulent or malicious activity, and ensure
network and information security.
We will not use your personal data for any purposes other than those described above without informing
you and obtaining your consent if required.
Sharing Your Information
AAYMCA does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information and treats all data with strict confidentiality. We may, however, share limited information with trusted third-party service providers solely to support the operation of our website and services. For example, if you subscribe to our newsletter, your details may be processed securely by Mailchimp and we may use Google Analytics to collect aggregated, non-identifying information about site usage to help us improve content and functionality. All third-party providers engaged by AAYMCA are bound to handle data responsibly and in line with privacy best practices. Outside of these providers, your information will only be disclosed if you give explicit consent, if required by law, or when necessary to safeguard the rights, property, or safety of AAYMCA, its users, or the public.
How We Keep Your Information Secure
We implement strict technical and organizational measures—such as secure servers, access controls, encryption where appropriate and regular security reviews—to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. These safeguards are continually assessed and updated to address new risks and maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your data. While no website or internet transmission can ever be completely secure, AAYMCA works diligently to uphold robust protections but assumes no liability for breaches beyond our control.
Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Statement, such as keeping your contact details on our newsletter list while you remain subscribed. Certain information may be preserved longer if required by law or organizational policies, for example to maintain accurate records or resolve disputes. Once data is no longer needed and no legal obligation applies, it will be deleted, anonymized, or securely disposed of in line with our retention policies. If you unsubscribe from our newsletter, your details will be promptly removed from our mailing list and Mailchimp database, and you may also contact us directly to request removal from our systems.
Use of Photographs, Videos and Other Media
All content on this website — including text, images, photographs, graphics, videos, logos and trademarks — is the property of the Africa Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA) & respective partners and protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. Materials may only be viewed for personal, non-commercial use, and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without prior written permission from AAYMCA. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. For permission requests, please contact us via the details on the contact page.
Changes to This Privacy Statement
We may occasionally update or revise this Privacy Statement to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. AAYMCA reserves the right to modify this Statement at any time. When we do make changes, we will post the updated Privacy Statement on this page and update the “Effective Date” if applicable. We encourage you to periodically review this page to stay informed about how we are protecting your information and to see any updates . Your continued use of our website after any changes to this Privacy Statement constitutes acceptance of those changes.
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and collect information on how our site is used. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that allow us or third-party services to recognize your browser and remember certain details. We mainly use them for analytics purposes, such as through Google Analytics, to understand navigation patterns, popular content and overall site usage. This data is aggregated and does not directly identify you, but it helps us generate reports and improve site functionality.
- Analytics Cookies: Third-party analytics tools like Google Analytics may use first- and third-party cookies to collect non-identifying information (e.g., pages visited, time spent, referrals) to help us enhance the site’s performance and content.
- Consent: By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies as described in this Statement. On your first visit, you may see a notification about cookies and continuing to use the site confirms your consent.
- Your Choices: You may disable or delete cookies at any time in your browser settings. While most browsers let you refuse or manage cookies, please note some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled. You can also opt out of Google Analytics via the Opt-out Browser Add-on or adjust your browser’s Do Not Track settings.
We handle all cookie and analytics data with confidentiality, ensuring it is used strictly for organizational analysis and improvement. We do not permit third-party providers to use this data beyond our purposes and we do not use cookies for third-party advertising.